Percussion instrument

ABSTRACT

A compound percussion instrument comprises a first percussive instrument, such as a tambourine ( 1 ). The tambourine ( 1 ) has a frame ( 2 ) having a rim ( 3 ). A plurality of jingles ( 6 ) is mounted to the rim ( 3 ). A second percussive instrument includes a hammer and an anvil. The hammer or anvil may be a temple block ( 7 ) and the other of the hammer or anvil may be a fixed or movable striker ( 11, 14 ). A trigger ( 13 ) is mounted to a handle ( 5 ) of the tambourine ( 1 ). Actuation of the trigger ( 13 ) causes the hammer to strike the anvil to sound a musical note from the second percussive instrument. The compound percussion instrument may be played with a single hand and allows two different musical sounds to be obtained.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a United States National Stage entry fromInternational Patent Application Ser. No. PCT/AU2004/000616, filed May5, 2004.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a percussion instrument. In particularthe present invention relates to a percussion instrument that maybeoperable to produce compound sounds without requiring the musician toemploy an additional hand to operate a secondary percussive instrumentor to suspend operation of a primary percussive instrument so as tooperate the secondary percussive instrument.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Musicians utilise percussion instruments to establish beat. In manystyles of music musicians use a number of types of percussioninstruments to establish complex structures to the beat. In order toemploy a number of types of percussion instruments it is generallynecessary to utilise a number of musicians or arrange the music in amanner in which the operation of multiple percussion instruments arestaggered. A limited number of percussion instruments allow more thanone type sound to be produced. These types of percussion instrumentsrequire the use of complex actions to generate multiple types ofpercussive sounds. Either the musician must use an additional hand ormust interrupt the playing of the first instrument in order to produce asecond percussive sound.

The use of a number of musicians to play percussion instruments isgenerally impractical. Bands of musicians that perform are limited insize for economic and logistic factors. In order for a band of musiciansto be economically viable it is necessary for their numbers to belimited. Further, the coordination of a large number of musicians islogistically complex and, from a musical timing point of view, difficultto control. Accordingly, it is desirable to maximise the usage of themusicians by enabling the musicians to produce a greater number ofsounds.

There have previously been produced a variety of compound instrumentsthat are unable to the production of a plurality of sounds types. Forexample, musicians often utilise a guitar not only as a stringedinstrument but also as a percussion instrument by striking of the hollowbody of the guitar. This type of use of a guitar takes advantage of thehollow body of the guitar rather than use a second type of instrument.In a drum kit a multiplicity of percussion instruments are provided.There may be a variety of different drum types as well as cymbals thatmaybe struck by the drummer. Whilst the drummer may play one or moredrums, in order to play the cymbals the drummer either has to strike thecymbals with a drumstick in the inactive hand or interrupt playing thedrums.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present inventor has now developed a compound percussion instrumentthat enables a musician to operate simultaneously two percussiveinstruments without having to utilise an additional hand. According tothe present invention there is provided a compound percussion instrumentcomprising a first percussive instrument and a second percussiveinstrument wherein the first percussive instrument is operable by aplayer using at least one hand and wherein the second percussiveinstrument is simultaneously operable by a player using said at leastone hand wherein said second percussive instrument comprises a hammer,at least one anvil and an actuator wherein the actuator is disposed onthe first percussive instrument and operates the hammer and causes thehammer to strike the anvil.

Preferably, the first percussive instrument has a handle and theactuator is disposed on the handle of the first percussive instrument.

In some embodiments, the percussion may include a plurality of hammersactuated by the actuator.

The compound percussion instrument of the present inventionadvantageously may be played such that both the first and secondpercussive instruments may be played independently or in concert wherebynotes may be played on the first and second percussive instrumentssimultaneously. The compound percussion instrument allows a musician toadd an additional instrument to a musical composition without having tointroduce additional musicians, but more importantly to augment aninstrument with a readily operable secondary instrument so as to createa new sound or sounds.

The first percussive instrument may be any desired percussiveinstrument. For example, the first percussive instrument may be atambourine, shaker, rattle, bells or the like.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the first percussiveinstrument is a tambourine. The tambourine preferably includes a rim onwhich a plurality of jingles, metal disks or bells, are mounted.Typically a tambourine will have two rows of jingles disposed around therim. It is preferred that the tambourine of the first embodiment of thepresent invention includes three rows of jingles disposed around therim. Tambourines typically include a portion of the rim that is free ofjingles that provides a handle for the musician. Preferably the handlemay be shaped to conform to the hand of the musician. Tambourines aretypically operated by a rhythmical shaking action of the wrist. Therhythmical shaking action of the wrist is a continuous action that maybeinterrupted by striking the tambourine against the musician's body. Thistype of action generally precludes the musician operating a secondinstrument with the same hand simultaneously.

Other percussive instruments may be used as the first percussiveinstrument. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatpercussive instruments that are operable with a single hand mayadvantageously incorporate a second percussive instrument of the typedescribed herein. Such percussive instruments are generally operated bythe musicians simultaneously with other instruments, such as keyboardsor a microphone.

The second percussive instrument comprises a hammer, at least one anviland an actuator wherein the actuator operates the hammer and causes thehammer to strike the anvil. The hammer maybe formed in any convenientconfiguration. The hammer is mounted to strike the anvil. The hammer maybe pivotally mounted on the compound percussion instrument such that thehammer may pivot to strike the anvil. In another configuration, thehammer may be slidably mounted on the compound percussion instrument orin another manner that permits the hammer to strike the anvil.

In a preferred configuration the hammer may be biased to a primedcondition. The hammer may be biased using a spring, of the coiled orleaf type, or using an over centre pivotal mount. It is preferred thatthe hammer be biased to a primed condition with an over centre pivotalmount having opposed anvils on either side of the pivot point. Thehammer is preferably biased using a coil springs such that in a primedcondition of the hammer rests against one of the anvils.

In another embodiment, the compound percussion instrument includes asingle anvil and the hammer is biased to a primed position in which astriking surface of the hammer is spaced from the anvil.

In one form of the invention the hammer maybe chosen to provide thedesired acoustic response. In this embodiment, it is preferred that thehammer be in the form of a temple block. A temple block is a hollowmember having at least one opening. Sound produced by striking thetemple block against the anvil resonates within the temple block and isemitted therefrom.

In another embodiment, the at least one anvil may be chosen to providethe desired acoustic response.

Either the at least one anvil or the hammer, or both, may provide thedesired acoustic response. Generally it is preferred that either the atleast one anvil or the hammer provide the desired acoustic response. Forexample, where the hammer is chosen to provide the desired acousticresponse the at least one anvil may be a rigid member that has little orno acoustic response. Alternatively, where the hammer is a relativelyrigid member having little or no acoustic response the at least oneanvil is preferably adapted to provide the desired acoustic response.

In a one configuration the hammer is in the form of a temple block thatstrikes opposed anvils on either side of a pivotal mount. The opposedanvils may be in the form of projections extending from the frame of thecompound percussion instrument.

The hammer is actuated by an actuator that causes the hammer to strikethe anvil. The actuator is preferably associated with the handle of thecompound percussion instrument such that the musician may operate theactuator whilst holding the compound percussion instrument in a mannersuited for the playing of the first percussive instrument. The actuatormay be directly connected to the hammer and form an extension therefrom.It is preferred that the actuator is indirectly connected to the hammervia a linkage. The linkage may be a chain, a cord, a bar or a member.

The actuator is preferably in the form of a trigger.

In a preferred form, the temple block is a slit drum having a teardropped shape cross section. Preferably the slit will run from anaperture in each end wall of the slit drum along the midline of the slitdrum. The temple block or slit drum may be fixedly mounted at its sharpend to the frame of the instrument or it may be hingedly mounted at itssharp end to the frame of the instrument in a preferred configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings. It will be understood that the accompanyingdrawings and associated description provided for illustrative purposes.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a compound percussion instrumentaccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a compound percussion instrumentaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a front view of part of a tambourine in accordance with afurther embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a rear view of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the actuating mechanism foroperating the hammer of the tambourine shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated that the drawings accompanying this specificationhave been provided to show preferred embodiments of the presentinvention. Accordingly, it will be understood that the drawings areillustrative of the present invention and that the invention should notbe considered to be limited to all features shown in the drawings.

A tambourine 1 is shown in FIG. 1. The tambourine 1 is formed from aframe 2. The frame 2 includes a rim 3 and a brace 4. A handle 5 ismounted on the rim 3.

The rim 3 supports a plurality of jingles 6 mounted in the three rowsand was placed around the rim 3. A musician is able to play thetambourine 1 by holding the handle 5 and shaking the tambourine 1causing the jingles 6 to jangle.

The brace 4 extends diametrically within the rim 3. A hammer, in theform of a temple block 7, is mounted on the brace 4. A pivotal mount 8extends through the brace 4 and an extension 9 of the temple block 7 isattached to a compression spring 10. The compression spring 10 is fixedto the brace 4. The compression spring 10 holds the temple block 7against the first anvil 11. A cord 12 is attached to the temple block 7above the pivotal mount 8. The cord 12 is also attached to the brace 4.A trigger 13 is pivotally connected to the handle 5 and the cord passesthrough the remote end of the trigger 13. The musician may call thetrigger 13 to rotate the temple block 7 such that it strikes the secondanvil 14. By releasing the trigger 13 the compression spring 10 returnsof the temple block 7 such that it strikes of the first anvil 11.

FIG. 2 shows a tambourine 20 having a frame 22 mounted on a handle 21.The frame 22 has five sets of jingles 23 disposed around the frame 22.The jingles are mounted to jangle by the musician shaking the frame.

An anvil, in the form of a temple block 27, is fixedly mounted to theframe 22 above the handle 21. A pair of opposed hammers 28 are mountedon respective arms 24. The respective arms 24 are interconnected by acord 30. The respective arms 24 are biased with a spring 31. A lever 26is pivotally mounted on the frame 22 by a pivot mount 25 in the form ofa bolt. The trigger 26 is connected to the arm 24 a such that ondepression of the trigger 26 arm 24 a pivots away from the temple block27 and arm 24 b moves towards the temple block 27 and causes the hammer28 mounted on arm 24 b to strike the temple block.

The tambourine shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 comprises a rim 40 having aplurality of jingles 42 mounted thereto. A handle 44 depends from therim 40 and allows a musician to hold the tambourine for use.

The tambourine further includes an anvil in the form of a temple block46 fixedly mounted to the rim 40. A hammer 48 is arranged to strike thetemple block 46. In order to actuate the hammer 48, a trigger 50 ispivotally mounted at pivot mount 52 on the rim 40. Trigger 50 has aradially extending arm 54 extending outwardly therefrom. Solid linkage56 interconnects the arm 54 of the trigger 50 to hammer 48. Asschematically shown in FIG. 5, the solid linkage 56 is pivotallyconnected at point 58 to trigger 50. Point 58 is located above pivotpoint 60 at which the hammer is pivotally mounted to the rim 40 of thetambourine.

A tension spring 62 is mounted at one end 64 to the rim 40. The otherend of the tension spring 62 is mounted at point 66 to the lower end ofhammer 48. As can be best seen in FIG. 5, point 66 is located belowpivot point 60 at which the hammer 48 is mounted to the rim 40. As aresult, the tension spring 62 biases the hammer 48 in a primed positionin which the striker 49 of the hammer 48 is positioned away from thetemple block 46. This position is shown in solid outline in FIG. 5.

In use, the musician can actuate the hammer by pressing the trigger 50to cause it to rotate about pivot mount 52 and adopt the position shownin broken outline in FIG. 5. This causes solid linkage 56 to move in thedirection of arrow A which causes the hammer 48 to pivot about point 60and move to apposition shown in broken outline in FIG. 5. In thisposition, the hammer 48 strikes the temple block 46. Spring 62 isstretched such that when the musician releases the trigger 48 the spring62 moves the hammer 48 back to the primed position shown in solidoutline in FIG. 5. This also resets the trigger 50 to the position shownin solid outline in FIG. 5.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations andmodifications to the invention described herein will be apparent withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of thereof. In particular, there area number of alternative actuating mechanisms for causing the hammer tostrike the anvil that may be used in the present invention. Theactuators shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 5 include a trigger andthis is preferred for ease and convenience of use by the musician.Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention describedabove may be subject to improvements and modifications that will beapparent without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventiondescribed herein.

1. A compound percussion instrument comprising: a first percussiveinstrument; a second percussive instrument wherein the first percussiveinstrument is operable by a player using at least one hand and whereinthe second percussive instrument is simultaneously operable by a playerusing said at least one hand wherein said second percussive instrumentcomprises a hammer; at least one anvil; said hammer being slidablymounted on said compound percussion instrument to permit said hammer tostrike said anvil; and an actuator wherein the actuator is disposed onthe first percussive instrument and operates the hammer and causes thehammer to strike the anvil.
 2. A compound percussion instrument asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the first percussive instrument has a handleand the actuator is disposed on the handle of the first percussiveinstrument.
 3. A compound percussion instrument as claimed in claim 1wherein the first percussive instrument comprises at least one of atambourine, shaker, rattle, and bell.
 4. A compound percussioninstrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hammer is pivotally mountedon the compound percussion instrument such that the hammer is pivotallymounted to strike the anvil.
 5. A compound percussion instrument asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the hammer is biased to a primed condition.6. A compound percussion instrument as claimed in claim 5 wherein thehammer is biased using a spring.
 7. A compound percussion instrument asclaimed in claim 6 wherein the hammer is biased to a primed conditionwith an over centre pivotal mount having opposed anvils on either sideof the pivot point.
 8. A compound percussion instrument as claimed inclaim 7 wherein the hammer is biased using a spring such that in aprimed condition the hammer rests against one of the anvils.
 9. Acompound percussion instrument as claimed in claim 6 wherein thecompound percussion instrument includes a single anvil and the hammer isbiased to a primed position in which a striking surface of the hammer isspaced from the anvil.
 10. A compound percussion instrument as claimedin claim 1 wherein the hammer is chosen to provide a desired acousticresponse.
 11. A compound percussion instrument as claimed in claim 10wherein the hammer is in the form of a temple block comprising a hollowmember having at least one opening.
 12. A compound percussion instrumentas claimed in claim 11 wherein the hammer is in the form of a templeblock that strikes opposed anvils on either side of a pivotal mount. 13.A compound percussion instrument as claimed in claim 12 wherein theopposed anvils are in the form of projections extending from a frame ofthe compound percussion instrument.
 14. A compound percussion instrumentas claimed in claim 13 wherein the at least one anvil is chosen toprovide the desired acoustic response.
 15. A compound percussioninstrument as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an actuator directlyconnected to the hammer and forms an extension therefrom.
 16. A compoundpercussion instrument as claimed in claim 15 wherein the actuator isindirectly connected to the hammer via a linkage.
 17. A compoundpercussion instrument as claimed in claim 15 wherein the actuator is atrigger.
 18. A compound percussion instrument as claimed in claim 15wherein the percussion instrument includes a plurality of hammersactuated by the actuator.